Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. As we all know, every Member accepts that there is an emergency social housing crisis, which is the result of years of underinvestment. We know that one of the principal ways to address this crisis is to commence immediately a major social housing building programme, but the main reason this has not happened is quite obvious. Five years ago this economy was bust and borrowing money at an unaffordable rate of 15%. Admittedly, during the boom years, the previous Government could and should have done more to deal with this developing crisis but that did not happen. As a result of this Government's goals and management of the economy, as a nation we can borrow money at a rate of just 1%. This is the reason this Government is able to initiate a new building programme. For the past two years, the Department has begun to find new projects through local authorities and voluntary housing associations. It has also introduced the housing assistance payment scheme, which is far less cumbersome and more effective than the rent allowance scheme. This Government is working hard to develop a rent certainty scheme, which must be constitutional first as well as being fair to the tenant and the landlord. We need all sectors working together to solve this problem.

We have a huge opportunity to regenerate our smaller towns and villages. There are 130 ghost estates in Cork. I am sure the people of Cork would be delighted if it was possible to work with the local authorities to get those estates viable and ready for families and homeless people as soon as possible by assisting the local authorities purchase and refurbish these houses. This Government has begun the process. The current improving state of the economy will ensure that progress can and will be successful over the medium to long term. I welcome the announcement yesterday of the €3 billion capital programme. Short-term solutions must be found for the homeless and families who through no fault of their own are about to lose their homes. To be really successful in dealing with the housing crisis, we need both the private and public sectors working together. Many houses are needed not just for people who require social housing but also for families willing to rent or buy houses. A long-term strategic view is the only way to solve this problem.

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